[HPforGrownups] Re: Who was witness to the killing of James and Lily?

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42217

Tim A writes:

> Although an interesting theory, I have reason to doubt it was Snape
> who could have been in the house when Lily was killed and the AK on
> Harry backfired.  Assuming it wasn't James and he died elsewhere, I
> have a different theory on who could have been in the house.  Peter
> Petigrew.  He was the secret keeper.  He was in cahoots with
> Voldemort.  Harry heard "Lily, take Harry and go!  It's him!  Go!
> I'll hold him off---" (POA, pg 240 US/hb) while learning the patronus
> with the boggart.  Harry assumed it was his father, but it could have
> been anybody on Voldemort's side whom the Potter's trusted.  That's
> why I think if it wasn't James' voice he heard, it must have been
> Peter's.

The secret keeper wouldn't have been in the same house with those whose
secret he was keeping, would he?  That would seem to defeat the point to me.
Because if anyone really needed the secret keeper they couldn't find him if
he was with the ones who had the secret.

But what about Lupin?  Could it have been him?  His actions that night are
unaccounted for.  Unless there was  a full moon, of course.  That would
explain why he was surprised that Harry heard his dad's voice.  Now Harry of
course has no way to know what James sounded like.  Especially at that
point.  After GoF and the Priori Incantatum he may have known his voice, if
echos sound like real people do.  Anyway, sure he could've recognized his
voice, but 12 years and losing all your close friends can do a lot to a
person.

Snape is a possibility, though I can't quite see it.  What about Sirius
himself?  He wasn't the secret keeper and it was said he was planning to go
into hiding. But not yet in hiding, right?  Could he have been there as
support?  We know that Hagrid met him there.  Perhaps he was knocked out or
something and not only lived all that time in Azkaban feeling he had let the
Potters down, but also somewhat guilty because he hadn't died with them.

All right, did I leave anybody out? :)  I think that just about covers it.

Richelle